Neighborhood sounds: MAPP takes over the Mission

It's fun to imagine what it would be like to have lived during the Beatnik era, an era full of art salons and improvised performance. An evening walking around the for the Mission Arts and Performance Project[2] (MAPP) with friends seems like close fit to those artistic days, because you never really know what you'll see when you roll up to one of the many venues along the MAPP's guide to the Mission.

This edition seemed especially filled with unique instruments. There was a folk Americana duo (Michael Hamilton) at Cafe La Boheme that included a cello, followed by the wonderful songstress She the Wolf, donning a red beret. After refueling on chai and cookies, the next stop was Artillery AG on Mission street, where a harp was taking center stage, as Maria Jose Montijo[3] belted out melancholy, romantic ballads in Spanish. Our last stop was at Red Poppy Art House, for quirky and wonderfully weird poetry by Arian Arias that incorporated a made-up alien language from the future and also a collaboration with a flamenco dancer.

The final show we watched was a beautiful modern dance piece by SF native Sriba Kwadjovie. Inspired and excited by all the art we had absorbed, we made our way to a friends tiny apartment on Dolores street for a David Byrne-themed dance party, with Stop Making Sense being projected on the wall as we boogied down in over-sized white suits. A perfect Saturday night.